You can find more information regarding this film on its IMDb page.


This movie is part of the collection: Film Noir

Director: Bernard Vorhaus
Production Company: Samba Pictures
Audio/Visual: sound, b&w
Keywords: Thriller

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: Freddie Jaye - - February 19, 2011
Subject: "Good eeeeeeeevening..."
Some reviewers say "Carnival of Souls" plays like an extended episode of the Twilight Zone.

By the same token, I think this solid little flick--with some judicious tightening--would have been right at home on "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour."

No scares, just a fairly suspenseful story with enough minor twists to keep the viewer a bit off-balance.

A reviewer below said the ending seemed rushed, and I agree--but not in the sense of being forced. Instead, it seemed truncated, as if footage was chopped arbitrarily and dumped.

I deducted a half-star for the choppy ending, and another half-star for what must be one of the god-awfullest titles I've seen. There is NO "Mr. X!"

Reviewer: wannabee2 - - August 17, 2010
Subject: Actually a decent story
More than a rainy day film, this movie is about Mr X and his experience with 2 sisters. The special effects are bad, as expected, but it has a 3rd act and is pretty solid

Reviewer: junya - - March 2, 2010
Subject: Another perspective...
Reading the other reviews raised my expectations for this film. But while I agree that it is a unique story, with mildly surprising twists (and an incredibly bad title), the actors and actresses all seemed to have conspired to tank the decent plotline. Turhan Bey's delivery was monotonous and shallow. I quickly got sick of his tone - and that annoyance never faded. The performance of Lynn Bari (Christine, the mark) was wooden and dull. The sister was too golly-geewhiz to take seriously - yet not enough over-the-top to raise the performance to campy fun. The boyfriend was merely a forgettable prop. And why is this considered "film noir"?

In summary, the film can be mildly entertaining, if you don't expect much - and have a strong tolerance for piss-poor acting. Besides the story line, the film's main saving grace is that it is mercifully short.

Reviewer: horseoftroy - - September 26, 2009
Subject: who is mr. x?
very well done film that keeps the tension throughout. artistically drawn.

Reviewer: Spuzz - - September 20, 2009
Subject: Preceding the Pretty Ordinary Mr. W
Bit of nasty work here... A widow keeps hearing voices and strange goings-on and starts to go to a psychic, who knows more about the widow then almost she does. When we have that all figured out at home, there's more twists to the story, which adds up to the fun. Almost like Gaslight with ghosts, this was a lot of fun actually, the acting is good, the direction good, and the cinematography is quite spooky. Catch this if you can!

Reviewer: malary - - February 16, 2009
Subject: Quite Thrilling
Pretty amazing movie. I agree with the reviewer below; they could have thought of a better title. It's quite a unique tale and there's hardly a dull moment. I love all the little twists and turns. The actors are very good as well. I like the ending, but it seemed a little rushed.

Reviewer: terracesider - - February 11, 2006
Subject: Great film
Marvellous lighting enhances the menacing atmoshpere which prevades this film. The oily medium, Alexis, is arguably Turhan Bey's best film role. Lynn Bari provides first rate support.

Trivia: nearly fifty years later Bey played the ageing Emperor in the B5 (series 2) episode, The Coming of the Shadows.

Reviewer: Therby - - January 17, 2006
Subject: Slow start
At first I didn't think this was going to turn into much but it was fairly interesting with some mild surpises. This movie was done well and is in great shape. I did enjoy it.

Reviewer: billbarstad - - January 5, 2006
Subject: Pretty Good
A smart, smooth-talking confidence man (Turhan Bey) takes in a rich, romantic, morose widow (Lynn Bari) and the plot develops as expected from there. But a surprise twist takes the story in a different, hurried direction.

Pretty enjoyable short movie. I especially liked the performance of the widow's younger sister, played by Cathy O'Donnell

Reviewer: Ella Greggs - - November 4, 2005
Subject: Lousy Title, Highly Entertaining Film
Widow Christine contemplates remarrying, but feels haunted by her late husband Paul. She meets Alexis, a charming 'medium' who offers to help her communicate with Paul. Then one day during a sceance, Paul's ghost does indeed appear, but it turns out he doesn't exactly have Christine's best interests at heart.

Don't be put off by the horrible title. This is a very good movie. I really enjoyed the performances, and I loved the fact that I had no idea how the story was going to play out. You start off thinking its going to be about this poor widow being exploited by a fake medium, and then it turns into something much, much more sinister. Also lovely cinematography.